AUSTIN, Texas -- A new documentary that tells the story of a little-known border-town massacre is set to air Friday, September 20.
Porvenir, Texas focuses in on January 28, 1918, when 15 men were taken from the homes and killed while the women and children were forced to flee. Since that bloody night, the town of Porvenir has ceased to exist.
The film aims to expose the killers, who were found to be a state-sanctioned vigilante group of Texas Rangers. The massacre eventually led to the restructuring of the Texas Rangers that we know today.
Jerry Patterson, Texas' former Land Commissioner and major contributor to the documentary, says the exposure of this piece of history is to the delight of the descendants of the town, many of whom live in the state.
"They're not seeking reparations, " said Patterson. "They're just seeking their story be told about their ancestors who were brutally murdered by people in positions of authority."
To hear more on the upcoming Documentary click the video link above, including why Patterson thinks the Porvenir massacre parallels with recent Texas events.